The Turkish Province from an English Diplomat's Viewpoint 70 Years
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ISSN 2411-9563 (Print) European Journal of Social Sciences January-April 2017 ISSN 2312-8429 (Online) Education and Research Volume 4, Issue 1 The Turkish Province from an English Diplomat’s Viewpoint 70 Years Ago Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Satan Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Balcı Abstract In 1947, a British diplomat conducted a visit to the places travelled rarely by local and foreign travelers, The Black Sea Coast between Samsun and Giresun in the North, the Malatya-Erzincan train line in the South, the Sivas- Erzurum train route in the West, Erzincan-Şebinkarahisar- Giresun in the East, and reported what he saw to London. In secret report, there provided military, political, ethnographic and historical information. In rapidly changing life conditions in the world, this secret report, which was written seventy years ago, set us on a historical journey. In the year, which the secret report was written, Turkey preferred being part of Western bloc in newly established bipolar international system and British diplomats were trying to understand how Britain and the Soviet Union were looked at in the regions they visited. In the secret report, there were also striking observations regarding the activities of the newly formed opposition party (Democratic Party) in Anatolia, the distance between the Turkish elites and the Anatolian villagers, and the military-civilian relationship in Anatolia. Keywords: World War II, province, rural, English diplomats, Middle and East of Turkey INTRODUCTION After the Second World War, Turkey preferred being part of Western bloc in bipolar international system. In the days when Turkey made transition from single party to multiparty political system, Turkey established close relations with United States and United Kingdom. In eightieth period and second legislative year of Turkish Grand National Assembly, President İsmet İnönü’s speech in which he stated United Kingdom was the most important ally of Turkey, described English people as noble nation and mentioned United States as a great democracy is the most significant official statements showing Turkey’s heading in terms of international alliance. 1 Turkey’s decisive stance gained concrete visibility with the Turkey’s participation to three international organizations as of 1947. In accordance with Law No. 5016 dated 25. 02. 1947, Turkish government was authorized to participate International Monetary Fund (IMF) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and in the same year, Turkey participated to General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which regulates international trade with the participation of 23 countries. With the participation of World Bank and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the impact of Truman Doctrine and Marshall aids, Turkey entered political and economic integration process with Western bloc. 2 1 Barış Övgün, “1947: Uluslararası İç Politika”, Açıklamalı Yönetim Zamandizini 1940-1949, Ed. Birgül Ayman Güler, Ankara 2008, p. 867. For domestic political events in Turkey in this period see: Feroz Ahmad, Demokrasi Sürecinde Türkiye (1945-1980), çev. Ahmet Fethi, Hill Pub., Istanbul 1992, pp. 37-53; and also see: Meral Balcı, Sıradışı Bir Politikacı Kasım Gülek Hayatı ve Siyasi Faaliyetleri, Yeditepe Pub., Istanbul 2015, pp. 54-88. 2 Barış Övün, p.853. Events in 1947 from a jornalist’s point of view, see: Cüneyt Arcayürek, Açıklıyor -1 Demokrasinin İlk Yılları 1947- 1951, Bilgi Pub., Ankara 1983. For a research study of the term using a newspaper, see: Şerafettin Pektaş, Milli Şef Döneminde Cumhuriyet Gazetesi (1938-1950), Fırat Pub., Istanbul 2003. 7 ISSN 2411-9563 (Print) European Journal of Social Sciences January-April 2017 ISSN 2312-8429 (Online) Education and Research Volume 4, Issue 1 While improving, and consolidating institutional relations with the West in international relations, Turkey also attempted to develop democracy in domestic politics. In the context of these international and domestic settings, we see that British diplomats and political observers in Ankara conducted a visit to Central and Eastern parts of Anatolia to get insight into political opinions of Turkish people. The secret report written as a result of the visit taking place September 4-18, 1947 was found during our research in the archives of UK Foreign Ministry. 1 We do not know how many people are involved in the trip; however, while explaining the trip route, it was emphasized that large part of Turkey, the Black Sea coast between Samsun and Giresun in the North, the Malatya-Erzincan train line in the South, the Sivas-Erzurum train route in the West and the Erzincan-Şebinkarahisar-Giresun line in the East, had been visited rarely for a hundred years. Travel notes provide interesting information, as well as strategic and military information at the end of each traveled area. Even though World War II had already ended and with the assumption that UK would not plan a military attack on Turkey, in the report, there are significant evaluations for possible Soviet Union’s attack on Turkey. We want to give examples of military evaluations by censoring geographical coordinates because they can still have a military meaning even though it has been over 70 years. “…this region lacks of cover or room for deployment for armoured vehicles, and scarcity of areas suitable for operating air- borne troops, offers formidable obstacles to the movement of enemy forces…” “…. Erzincan plain offers excellent facilities for the landing of air-borne forces in the rear of any defensive group in the region……” “……All along this stretch, there is no room for deployment by armour and supply columns of any effective cover. This country- as in the case of Euphrates gorges- is essentially terrain over which only ground troops could only ooperate. Incidentally, while the landscape affords no facilities for movement by or cover for armoured vehicles, the deep ravines, an deven caves, afford shelter for infantry and mounted men against air attacks…” The Charm Of The Turkish Province We understand that the first important center is Erzincan City in the English committee’s travel. Evaluating Erzincan City in historical process, they pointed out the following information in their report: “The charm of Turkish provincial towns is that each has a character original to itself. Although one of the oldest settled sites in Anatolia, Erzincan has the aspect of some Alaskan township which has grown up in a few years. The old town (which had not suffered much during the war of 1914-18 since it twice changed hands without fighting- an indication of its indefensible situation) was almost entirely destroyed by the eartquake of 1939. In this catastrophe some 12. 000 people lost their lives. Numbers migrated and the pre- 1939 population of 30. 000 has been reduced to 13. 000. The old town lay to the South of the new town in the direction of the Euphrates. The area looks like some battlefield of 1918 ploughed by weeks of shell-fireand little remains of former edifices except the foundations of a strongly built hammam and mosque. Most of the present inhabitants lost all or part of their families in the disaster which still remains a principal topic of conversation. A certain pride even is taken in having experienced “the worst eartquake after San Fransisco”. After stating that the Turks were absolutely competent and courageous in building a new Erzincan and some of the state buildings in the north of the city such as train station did not collapse in the earthquake and the damaged ones were repaired and reconstructed, the report pointed to that Ismet Inönü who visited immediately earthquake-effected zones, whose bronze sculpture was still looking down to the city on a blue scene. The report also states that wide boulevards were being 1 FO 371/72540/X3223 8 ISSN 2411-9563 (Print) European Journal of Social Sciences January-April 2017 ISSN 2312-8429 (Online) Education and Research Volume 4, Issue 1 organized in Erzincan and modern houses with two or four rooms have been constructed in large quantities through both public and private investment. The secret British report notes that even though the village transport was still provided by ox carts and horsepower, the villagers on the hill had easy access to the railway line, and adding that American motorcycles and Chevrolette van trucks were found in the area, though not much. With the Marshall Aids under the framework of Truman Doctrines, American vehicles would have increased significantly. However, British diplomats reported this finding to London after observing that increasing traffic between small villages and towns in Anatolia and many municipalities made negotiations to provide buses reaching Istanbul within 3-4 days for passengers; “Were the necessary exports from England and finance from Turkey available, there is undoubtedly a considerable market for mechanical transport and its accessories in the interior of Anatolia”. Daily Life In An Anatolian Town The confidential English Report not only determines military and economical inspections, but also gives precious information about rural life in Anatolia in 1947. Here is some of the information from the report: “An account of days passed in the Municipal Hotel (Belediye Oteli) may give some impression of the conditions of life in an Anatolian provincial town. The Belediye Oteli, a one-floor building (like all houses in Erzincan since the earthquake) is clean and decently kept. Beds- not rooms are let at TL 1. 25=2/6 per night. If a traveller wishes to keep a room to himself, he must therefore pay for three or four beds, and this is regarded as bad form if the hotel is crowded. There is a constant come-and-go of travellers- exclusively men for it is still not considered suitable for Turkish ladies tos tay in provincial hotels. (When they do travel, they arrange to be accomodated by friends in the town).